Bob Greear purchased the Meadowlands Golf Club and Oak Valley Golf Club in Wallburg and Advance, N.C., respectively. He also owns Caswell Pines Golf Club in Yanceyville, N.C., Holston Hills Golf Course in Marion, Va. and Draper Valley Golf Club in Draper, Va. For now, Greear doesn’t expect much more expansion of his golf course collection. “I’m happy with the five I’ve got,” he says. “But if something nice comes along, I’d be interested in it.”
Bob Greear, the new owner of Meadowlands Golf Club in Wallburg, N.C. and Oak Valley Golf Club in Advance, N.C., sees similarities between running a golf operation and operating a childcare center, the Triad Business Journal reported. Greear was in the childcare business for about 45 years, so he ought to know.
“It’s all about people,” Greear told the Business Journal.
In recent years, Greear has eased out of childcare and into the golf business, the Business Journal reported. With the addition of Meadowlands, which he bought for $1.475 million in April, according to a Davidson County deed of trust, and Oak Valley, which Greear said sold for a higher price, Greear owns five semi-private golf courses. The others are Caswell Pines in Yanceyville, and Virginia courses Holston Hills in Marion and Draper Valley in Draper.
The Business Journal found a deed for a $900,000 sale of Oak Valley. A deeds clerk in Davie County said that was the only deed she could find, as well. But Greear said that deed didn’t cover the entire purchase, which he revealed was higher than the Meadowlands price.
Meadowlands and Oak Valley have several similarities, the Business Journal reported. Both are upscale courses serving as the centerpiece of modern housing communities in growing sections of the Triad. Both were designed by companies headed by pro golf stars—Arnold Palmer at Oak Valley, Hale Irwin at Meadowlands. Both opened in 1995.
Greear bought Meadowlands and Oak Valley from LLCs controlled by C.J. “Pete” Ramey of Winston-Salem, a developer and contractor, the Business Journal reported.
Though both courses are in hot real estate sectors, Greear said residents and golfers shouldn’t worry about the course becoming residential lots, the Business Journal reported. He said he enjoys owning the scenic open land of his golf courses .
“I’m in the golf business,” he said.
The Triad golf business has boomed during the Covid-19 pandemic with increased participation and higher greens fees, the Business Journal reported. In the past few years, Forest Oaks Country Club, Sapona Country Club and Cross Creek Country Club have been sold to some of their members, protecting their existence.
Last year, Salem Glen Country Club in Clemmons, which includes a course designed by Jack Nicklaus’ company, was sold for $1.575 million, and remains a golf course.
Greear said his intention was to buy only Meadowlands, but Ramey convinced him to take Oak Valley, too, the Business Journal reported. Former Forest superintendent Geoff Dail, of Dail Agronomic Solutions, is in charge of maintenance at Greear’s three Triad courses and a partner in Oak Valley.
Meadowlands sits on about 175 acres, the Business Journal reported. Oak Valley has more than 205 acres—the reason Greear cited for its higher purchase price.
The Meadowlands deal closed first, and the next day, Greear began a $100,000 project to remove about 65 trees and re-sod portions of the fairways on Nos. 4, 7 and 12, the Business Journal reported. The new owner also fixed some irrigation problems and painted the clubhouse. A lighted fountain and a big flagpole were other additions.
Golf facilities have become the Greear family business, the Business Journal reported. Greear’s son, Robbie, handles many of the operational projects at Caswell Pines. Greear’s daughters, Michelle and Melanie, work in the company office, handling marketing and accounting duties. Previously, Greear’s children worked with him in his childcare business.
For now, Greear doesn’t expect much more expansion of his golf course collection, the Business Journal reported.
“I’m happy with the five I’ve got,” he said. “But if something nice comes along, I’d be interested in it.”
Greear’s three Triad courses have practice facilities and restaurants that serve sandwiches and alcohol products, the Business Journal reported. Caswell Pines also has a banquet room.
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